UPDATE: Henrico County recodification won't include changes to zoning codes
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article indicated that the county's recodification would include updates to zoning codes. On Tuesday, county officials clarified that this year's recodification would not involve zoning ordinances. The Citizen regrets the error.
On Tuesday, the Henrico Board of Supervisors voted to introduce an ordinance that would recodify the Henrico County Code – which would include the county's laws but not the zoning codes.
The ordinance, which the board will vote on after a public hearing on May 26, would allow the county to update language within all parts of the current code except for chapters 19 and 24, which detail regulations on "subdivisions" and "zoning."
At the board's Tuesday meeting, County Attorney Andrew Newby clarified that while Henrico's past recodifications have included updates to zoning codes, the county will not be making any changes to zoning in this year's recodification. Zoning codes were recently "overhauled substantially" in 2021 and therefore do not be updated again this year, he said.
"Recodification is a process we do every 15 years to update the county code, to remove inconsistencies, basically do a housekeeping and clean-up of the code and make sure it complies with state and federal law” Newby said. “This time around, however, we are not doing any zoning amendments”
Any updates made to the county's code during the recodification would mostly be to modernize language and make the code consistent with modern practices, Newby said. The code was last recodified in 1980, 1995, and 2010.
Substantive changes to the county's zoning codes were last made in 2021 and back in the 1960s, he said, as past recodifications have made only "superficial" updates to zoning ordinances.
During their evening meeting, the board also approved a $4.75-million construction contract to replace screw pumps at the Strawberry Hill Pumping Station.
At a work session earlier on Tuesday, the board received an update on the Avature Applicant Tracking System, an AI-powered tool the county will use to streamline the hiring process for prospective county and schools employees starting next month. The county's standards for accepting new employees will not change, officials said, and county staff will still be making the hiring decisions.
Board members also heard from county staff about the upcoming new Comprehensive Plan, which will include a chapter on environmental practices. That chapter would highlight the county's priorities of preserving open spaces and natural parks, encourage the rezoning of some floodplain areas to be designated as conservation land, advance urban forestry and tree planting efforts, establish more pollinator corridors, and other measures, staff said.
The board also heard from Henrico Sustainability Director Samantha Hudson about the upcoming Climate Action and Adaption Strategy plan, which is set to be finalized over the summer along with the Comprehensive Plan. The CAAS plan would identify ways for the county to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand green space, and improve walkability and bike infrastructure.
Henrico residents will have the chance to comment on both the draft Comprehensive Plan and CAAS plan at public meetings and listening sessions over the next few months.
Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.
